Joan Mistlin

December 13, 1921 – May 31, 2014

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Joan Mistlin, 92, of Ripon, CA passed away peacefully on May 31, 2014, in the loving care of Bethany Home, surrounded by most of her family. She was born on December 13, 1921 in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Wilma and Herbert Hildebrandt. She grew up in Normal, Illinois. During the war she worked on the Manhattan Project and then joined the U.S. Marines, serving as an aviation mechanic from 1943 to 1945. After the war she came west with a group of friends and ended up in San Francisco where she met her husband, Tony Mistlin, at a boarding house. In 1964 they moved to Modesto where Tony is now the owner of Mistlin Honda. Joan was very active in the Salvation Army, holding many positions including president of the Women’s Auxiliary. She was a long-time member of the Congregational Church of Salida. Joan traveled all over the world with her husband and visited many interesting places, but her favorite place was her own home and her Japanese garden where she spent many happy hours. Joan was a private woman who didn’t want to be the center of attention, yet she had a very generous heart. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Tony Mistlin, and by three children: Gala Lindvall, of Seattle; Gary Mistlin, of Reno; and Melody Mistlin, of Seattle; and four grandchildren: Eric, Anna, Amy Beth, and Kyle and one great-grandchild due in October. No public service is planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Grace Lieberman Trust Fund, c/o Lou Friedman, 1014 16th Street, Modesto, CA 95354.